Film & Television Production

AV Film Office

The State’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program continues to fuel the growth of on-location filming opportunities for the Antelope Valley. In past years, many of the Valley’s biggest productions only spent a day or two filming in the area, but this year saw film crews staying in the Valley longer. Production days were up from last year’s 518 to 553.

In the 2015-16 fiscal year, 368 film, television and other projects were filmed in the High Desert, which represents about a 3% increase from the prior year’s tally of 356.

Film L.A., the not-for-profit film office serving the Greater Los Angeles region, Los Angeles County and multiple client city partners, noted in their 2015 Production Report –

“Future studies should show increases forCalifornia as the state’s $330 million Film & Television Tax Credit Program reaches fullutilization. The 2016 report will include atleast two films produced in California usingthe new tax credit — The Conjuring 2 andCHiPs.”

Production in California is on the rise thanks to the expanded California Film and Television Tax Credit. Of major importance, this tax credit incentive now provides a 5-percent “uplift” for productions filming outside the “TMZ” – The Thirty Mile Zone. That’s good news for Antelope Valley film locations that sit outside the zone.

California Film & Television Tax Credit Program New Program Summary – AB 1839, the California Film & Television Job Retention and Promotion Act, was signed by Governor Brown on Sept. 18, 2014.

Other good news… Los Angeles continues to dominate entertainment production in the US. Expected growth reflects the public’s demand for content and the many platforms available for distribution like tablets and smart phones offering quality viewing experiences.

All this is very good news and presents an opportunity to grow on-location filming in the Antelope Valley. The future looks bright for the “closest desert” to Hollywood.

2016 Milestones

• Grand Opening of a small full service production studio servicing the Antelope Valley’s small to medium projects while financing and construction of larger production facilities are completed. Completed projected value approx. 20-25M.

AV Film Office will continue to stand as point agency for the entertainment industry overseeing every project is served in a film-friendly, film ready fashion. To provide the best customer service building North LA County’s reputation that will sustain through the coming years to maximize economic benefits.

Ridgecrest Film Commission

The Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (RAC VB), along with the Ridgecrest Film Commission, provides marketing synergies with tourism promotion. By offering a diverse and wide range of natural beauty from spectacular geological formations to desert fauna, Ridgecrest provides some of the most breathtaking scenery that you’ll see in California. With hands-on support for production personnel, the RAC VB stands ready to make filming easy. www.racvb.com

“When filming comes to Ridgecrest, it engages business, crews, vendors, hotels, restaurants, tourism and locals. The economic impact for the region is huge, bringing millions of dollars in local spending, not to mention the incredible exposure of the area.” says Doug Lueck, Executive Director of the RAC VB.

California Film & Television Tax Credit ProgramThe California Film Commission is currently developing regulations, program guidelines and other procedures to administer the newly expanded film and TV tax credit program.
For more information go to www.film.ca.gov/Incentives.htm.

ELIGIBLE FOR 25% TRANSFERABLE TAX CREDIT (maximum credit is 25%, uplifts do not apply)• Independent Projects: $1 million minimum budget; credits apply only to the first $10 million of qualified expenditures. (Only independent projects may sell their tax credits.)• Relocating TV Series, any episode length, that filmed its most recent season outside California; $1 million minimum budget. (Additional seasons are eligible for 20%.)